Coxall Knoll

Cherry

By Rhiannonw

Sat, 18 Feb 2023
  • 917 reads
13 comments
 

Feeling well enough to go out.
Mist has cleared, sunshine back and fore.
Not too late, afternoons longer now.
Let’s go out – where?

Quick look at the map and we head out
and aim for one of the little hill-fort hills of the area.
Lovely journey up past the marches’ ups and downs, in the sunshine.
Find a space to park that doesn’t block the lane, near a gate.

Sheep very interested pulling straw from a pile as the grass so short at present;
they aren’t pleased when we walk through another field thinking it the way up,
Back to the path, but soon see the extra way leading upward round the bend.
Thick dry crispy leaf-mulch underfoot.

Many little branches covered in various lichens, mosses amongst the leaf litter.
Also little stems and small anonymous leaves poking through,
spring approaching,
a patch of primrose leaves with their flower buds.

Up the steep slopes of thick dead leaves and out on to the top of the fort.
Views afar still hazy in the mist.

‘This seems rather like the place we found an oak apple once.’
“Walks so often remind me of bits of walks from the past”’

When I get home I look up my poem about the oak apple*,
click on the photo and see it was taken in November 2017.
Find the photos for that month. Open up, and there are the same scenes
– a bit more green then than now in February,
and unlike this time, such clear views out to the valley and further hills!.

*    https://www.abctales.com/story/rhiannonw/oak-apple

Certificate U
Poem
Countryside explorations
Nature
Autobiography

Comments

Submitted by marandina on

Enjoyed that walk with you, Rhiannon. You paint such vivid pictures with your words. As always, felt like I was there. Lovely photos, as well. Spring is in the air :) 

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thank you. Glad to be able to share, and record for my own memories and thankfulness! Yes, signs of spring and a bit or warmth in the sunshine very welcome! Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Insertponceyfre... on

so sorry you've been unwell - very glad to hear you're up and about now though, and yes, spring is definitely coming thank goodness! Thank you for this lovely excursion and the photos!

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thank you. Glad you enjoyed the countryside! Health is a bit up and down, so glad to get out when I can! Rhiannon

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Hi Rhiannon,

the weather has been kind for February hasn't it? It's nice to read about your captured walk in words. I bet those sheep can't wait for spring so they can munch on long grass again. Do you get really tired after long walks? I do...it must be all that fresh air. wink

By the way I was sorry to hear you were unwell too. I'm glad you were able to get out and about on this walk and create a lovely poem which I enjoyed reading.

Jenny.

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thank you so much, Jenny. I guess I don't get out for really long walks at present, and for me it isn't the mobility but more general internal stresses, we all have differnet awkwardnesses of health as we get older, but certainly appreciate the more th ouside views when we get out! Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thank you for the cherries. Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

I am glad you got out to do some more poem inspirations :0) Hope you continue to feel well with the Spring. I like very much how you weave present and past walks into one poem, also the positive state of your health. Impressed how organised you are to find photos from 2017! I liked "anonymous leaves" too

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thank you, Di. It's lovely to see the little curly stems and leaves poking through the mud this time of the year isn't it. My husband used to ask me 'What's that leaf?' and I would say, 'I can't tell until there's flowers' (and the more mature leaves), so I started calling them 'anonymous'. It was interesting to see them there poking through the dead leaf layer, not just the mud! Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

yes! it is almost like when a child trying to guess what might be in a Christmas present, guessing what the little green shoots might become

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

and all responding to the turn of the season, and all the differently shaped leaves! Rhiannon

 

Submitted by airyfairy on

Sorry to hear you've been unwell, Rhiannon, and glad to know that you're able to get out for walks again, and to share them with us. Interesting to look back at photos from previous walks and see what changes and what remains the same.

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thank you. Yes, we had forgotten where that walk had been, just a little hill among many around here, but especially nice to see the clearer further views that had been rather misty this time! Rhiannon